Vehicle cargo management system

Abstract

A cargo management system of this invention includes a deep well storage area beneath a cargo floor, which well may be horizontally and/or vertically divided and which preferably includes a plurality of doors to access the well. In the illustrated embodiment, the management system also includes a panel which may be placed into three positions: a first storage position in which the panel is flush against the back of the rear seat; a second shelf position in which the panel is horizontal and spaced from the cargo floor by a first distance; and a third privacy shield position in which the panel is also horizontal but is spaced from the cargo floor a second distance, the second distance exceeding the first distance.

1. A cargo management system for a vehicle having a rear seat and a generally horizontal, planar cargo floor behind the rear seat comprising: at least one door covering an opening in the cargo floor providing access to a storage area located therebeneath and a panel on the back of the rear seat, the panel having a first stored position, a second cargo shelf position horizontal to the cargo floor and spaced therefrom by a first distance, and a third position horizontal to the cargo floor and spaced a second distance from the cargo floor, the second distance exceeding the first distance. 
     
     
       2. The cargo management system of  claim 1  wherein the vehicle includes two side walls adjacent the cargo floor, receptacles being provided in each side wall, extensions extending from the panel and being placed in the receptacles when the panel is in its second and third positions. 
     
     
       3. The cargo management system of  claim 1  wherein the panel has an inner surface and outer surface when it is in its first position and a plurality of links are rotatably coupled to the seat back and to the inner surface of the panel whereby the panel may be rotated about the inner surface coupling to move the panel between its positions. 
     
     
       4. The cargo management system of  claim 1  wherein at least one door is retractable into the vehicle. 
     
     
       5. The cargo management system of  claim 4  wherein each retractable door is adapted to be placed in a vertical orientation. 
     
     
       6. The cargo management system of  claim 1  wherein said panel includes an upper edge and a lower edge when it is in its first position and wherein the upper edge becomes the rear edge when the panel is in its second position. 
     
     
       7. The cargo management system of  claim 6  wherein the lower edge is the rear edge when the panel is in its third position. 
     
     
       8. The cargo management system of  claim 6  wherein a keeper flap extends from the rear edge of the panel when it is in its second position and is stored when the panel is in its first and third positions. 
     
     
       9. The cargo management system of  claim 6  wherein cylindrical extensions extend from the sides of each of the upper and lower edges of the panel and the vehicle includes two side walls adjacent the cargo floor, receptacles being provided in each side wall arranged to receive the extensions when the panel is in its second and third positions. 
     
     
       10. The cargo management system of  claim 1  wherein a storage well is located beneath the cargo floor and is accessed by a door. 
     
     
       11. The cargo management system of  claim 10  wherein the storage well is accessed by a plurality of doors in the cargo floor. 
     
     
       12. The cargo management system of  claim 10  wherein three doors are provided for the storage well, two of the doors being retractable and one door being hinged. 
     
     
       13. The cargo management system of  claim 10  wherein the well includes a drain plug and an opening in its bottom adapted to receive the drain plug. 
     
     
       14. The cargo management system of  claim 10  wherein the storage well is divided horizontally into at least two storage areas. 
     
     
       15. The cargo management system of  claim 14  wherein the horizontal divider is at least one removable tray. 
     
     
       16. The cargo management system of  claim 10  wherein the storage well is divided into a plurality of storage areas by vertical walls. 
     
     
       17. The cargo management system of  claim 16  wherein at least one door is retractable into the vehicle. 
     
     
       18. The cargo management system of  claim 17  wherein each retractable door is adapted to be placed in a vertical orientation, and wherein a channel receives the door. 
     
     
       19. A cargo management system for a vehicle having a rear seat and a cargo floor behind the rear seat, the management system including: a panel on the back of the rear seat, the panel having a first storage position, a second cargo shelf position horizontal to the cargo floor and spaced therefrom by a first distance, and a third position horizontal to the cargo floor and spaced a second distance from the cargo floor, the second distance exceeding the first distance. 
     
     
       20. The cargo management system of  claim 19  wherein the vehicle includes two side walls adjacent the cargo floor, receptacles being provided in each side wall, extensions extending from the panel and being placed in the receptacles when the panel is in its second and third positions. 
     
     
       21. The cargo management system of  claim 19  wherein the panel has an inner surface and outer surface when it is in its first position and a plurality of links are rotatably coupled to the seat back and to the inner surface of the panel whereby the panel may be rotated about the inner surface coupling to move the panel between its positions. 
     
     
       22. The cargo management system of  claim 19  wherein said panel includes an upper edge and a lower edge when it is in its first position and wherein the upper edge becomes the rear edge when the panel is in its second position. 
     
     
       23. The cargo management system of  claim 22  wherein the lower edge is the rear edge when the panel is in its third position. 
     
     
       24. The cargo management system of  claim 22  wherein a keeper flap extends from the rear edge of the panel when the panel is in its second position and is stored when the panel is in its first and third positions. 
     
     
       25. The cargo management system of  claim 22  wherein cylindrical extensions extend from the sides of each of the upper and lower edges of the panel and the vehicle includes two side walls adjacent the cargo floor, receptacles being provided in each side wall arranged to receive the extensions when the panel is in its second and third positions. 
     
     
       26. A cargo management system for a vehicle including a rear seat and a cargo floor located behind the rear seat, a storage well located beneath the cargo floor and at least one door to access the storage well, and wherein the well is horizontally divided into upper and lower storage areas, and wherein the lower storage area is vertically divided into a first lower storage area and a second lower storage area. 
     
     
       27. The cargo management system of  claim 26  wherein at least one tray divides the well into upper and lower storage areas. 
     
     
       28. The cargo management system of  claim 26  wherein the well is divided by at least one vertical wall to create forward and rearward well storage areas. 
     
     
       29. The cargo management system of  claim 28  wherein at least one separate door is provided for each of the forward and rearward storage areas. 
     
     
       30. The cargo management system of  claim 29  wherein each door for the rearward storage area is retractable and each door for the forward storage area is hinged.